LAUSR

Abstract This study extends the STIRPAT model and uses China's provincial panel data during 2005–2015 to explore regional differences in impacts of GDP per capita and urbanization on SO2, NOx, and PM2.5 in China. Results show that, an inverse “U” shaped or inverse “N” shaped relationship existed in China's eastern and central regions, and a “U” shaped relationship existed in China's western region, between GDP per capita and air pollutants; on the whole, the economic growth reduced air pollutants in eastern region, but promoted air pollutants in other regions. There was a “U” shaped relationship between population urbanization and air pollutants in China's eastern region, a linear relationship in the central region, and a “U” shaped or inverse “N” shaped relationship in western region. There was an inverse “U” shaped relationship between land urbanization and air pollutants in all regions. Increases in the population and land urbanization levels in China's eastern region would promote SO2 and NOx, but reduce PM2.5; increases in population and land urbanization levels in the central and western regions reduced air pollutants. The population scale and industrialization had a promoting impact on air pollutants; the energy efficiency had a slight inhibitory impact. Policy implications are put forth related to these empirical results.